Nov., 1901. I 
THK CONDOR 
185 
Notes From Alameda, Cal. 
American Barn Owl, Strix pratincola. 
The following notes will be of interest 
in sequel to my account of “Barn Owls 
in Captivity” in Sept. -Oct. number: — I 
now attribute the cause of death of the 
three birds mentioned to prolonged diet 
of dead chickens, basing my opinion on 
the effect such diet had upon a cat 
which had to be killed in consequence. 
The earliest nesting record in the article 
referred to was March 24, 1900, 6 eggs, 
incubation fresh to slight, but this was 
beaten in 1901 by finding on March 20, 
4 eggs in one nest and 5 in another, in- 
cubation fresh to begun: and on March 
24, 6 eggs in one nest and 7 in another, 
incubation slight, while much better 
yet, a nest of young about a week old. 
These nests are all in Alameda Couiity 
and were empty later than this on pre- 
vious years. 
Date of nesting of Salt Marsh Song- 
Sparrow, Melospiza nielodia pusilln/a. 
The earliest nesting date of this bird is 
much earlier, this year at least, than is 
generally supposed. In recent years 1 
have noted full-fledged young Hying 
about the marshes in April and on 
March ii about 10 sets of 3 eggs each 
were taken on portions of the salt marsh 
here not subject to overflow from the 
flood tides. Incubation was fresh to 
slight and the nests built in the salt 
weeds or grass, literally upon the ground. 
Records of Snowy Owl, Nyctea nyclea 
at Alameda, Cal. My note book con- 
tains the following: — December 2, 1896, 
a fine specimen was shot by Tom Cav- 
anaugh on tlie “sand-hills” between the 
marsh and the beach of Bay barm 
Island, and he approached within easy 
range obtaining a “pot” shot. It passed 
into the possession of Perc}' b'ox who 
had it mounted and its identity passed 
upon by the taxidermist and by H. R. 
Taylor. October 26, 1897, Sherry Fish 
(deceased) told me he saw on the marsh 
the “mate” to the Snowy Owl Tom 
Cavanaugh shot last winter. W. F. 
Bryant reports three birds taken in 
Sonoma County by parties unknown to 
him, about that date. See California 
Department of “The Osprey” for Jan- 
uary 1897 account. 
Western F^vening Grosbeaks, Cocco- 
t/iraustes vespertinus montaiuis, were 
noted twice in Alameda last winter; 
January 29, 1901, a small flock seen by 
Percy Fox, feeding upon seeds of pep- 
per tree in town. March 6, 1901, a 
flock of 1 1 ? birds flying in direct line, 
about 40 ft high, at 5:30 p. m. 
Song of Golden-crowned vSparrow, 
Zouotrichia coroiata in winter is not an 
uncommon occurrence here. October 
24, 1901, at present they are singing in- 
cessantly, often singing but two notes, 
accentuated exactly like the first two of 
the regular .song of three notes: — as Mr. 
Jos. Grinnell describes it “oh dear” and 
“oh dear me.” 
California Jay, A pJielocoDia californica 
as a flycatcher. Recently on a vacant 
lot in town I observed this Jay ])ursuing 
a small yellow Initterfly and capture it 
in midair after several maneuvers. 
b'our varieties of rail in one day on 
salt nmrsh near Alameda. During a 
high tide which flooded the marsh for 
about two hours on Novend>er 7, 1900, 
I took 10 California C'apper Rail {Rallus 
obsoletus) Porzano (aroli)ia w’hich is 
rarer than the next variety, 10 PorziDia 
jaiiiaice?isis, and one Porzona novehora- 
censis, <5 , badly moulting. Ralhis vir- 
gi)iia>i/is is a rare bird here. 
California Cree])er, Cert/iia faiiiiliaris 
orridcnta/is. January 14, 1899, <5 taken 
here on live oak tree, the oidy bird 1 
ever noted, 
Arizona Goldfinch, Spin us psaPria 
arizoncc, $ taken here, January 16, 1898, 
among S. psa/tria, and one seen at close 
range, August 20, 1899, in moidt, and 
feeding upon lettuce tops gone to seed. 
Late nesting of Black-crowned Night 
Heron Sycficorax )iycticorax lurviKs. In 
a recent article in this magazine I com 
mented upon late nesting of this species 
stating tliat nestlings were heard clam- 
oring well into August. This year I 
heard some young in a cypre.ss tree on 
